Dialects for Performance

Dialect? Accent?

This can actually be cleared up easily. Technically, an accent is the sounds in a specific language. Examples? French, Mandarin, Sudanese. A dialect is a set of sounds within a language, often from different parts of a country. Examples? In the States? Georgia, Maine, Texas. Dialects also refer to different countries that speak the same language. With Spanish, each country speaks with sound and word variations. More examples? Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain.

On this website, the words will be used interchangeably.

Please schedule your FREE 30 minute interview during which

many of the following questions will be asked by me and answered by you.

Information You'll Want to Bring to Our First Dialect Session

NOTE: For those of you who've worked with a dialect before and/or are trained in dialect preparation, I am listing this information only as a reminder for you. You already know the information needed to prepare to perform in a dialect. Please let me know what method you've studied, been taught, learned on your own. I will then be able to use your language and that will make the work easier for you…and me.

If this is the first time you are learning a dialect, please bring this information to your first session.

Your performance medium: audition, film, musical, theatre, video, voice over, stand-up, YouTube, etc.

What is the setting: play: Greece, 482 BC; musical: New York City, 2010; play: Soweto, 1976; film: Haunted House, Kansas, 1950s

Who is your character and how do they fit into the story? Their back story is always helpful, even if you are playing a very small role.

Have you done any dialect research already? How much and where: books, tapes, online programs, courses, other actors?

How much time do you have to learn the dialect? Have you already learned your lines? How many lines do you have?

These are the basics to know before we construct a dialect to fit your needs or

you will be wasting your time and money learning all these things during your session with me.

Past Clients

HBO’s series The Wire; Disney’s Step Up Two, Baltimore, MD; Studio Theatre, Washington, D.C., 8 Productions; St. Louis Repertory Theatre, 3 productions; Rep Stage, MD, Resident Dialect Coach: 18 productions

The Dialect Process

If you have been cast already: If you need more help, then I will assist. We can work throughout your rehearsal period...weekly after the

first session, if that suits you.

If the production has a dialect coach, work with them first. If you need more help, with their permission, I will assist; BUT what your

coach and director want from your accent takes priority. I won't do a he said/she said/they said thing.

You're a responsible person; use professional behavior.

Research and resources: You: character, play, production research; Me: dialect research.

Each accent comes with its own potential variations. We will choose what fits your character and your mouth best.

We will work directly with your script. Learning the sound changes comes first. Feeling these, getting them in your mouth, you will then be able to better concentrate on creating your character and acting.

Working all the way through your script will make sure your accent is the same at the end of your performance as it is at the start.

Psst. We know stage, television, and film actors for whom this is not true…I will not name any names, but you know who...

mmmmmmmmm

There is A Caveat! Isn’t There Always?

Your Commitment

Know all the prior information listed above before you come to work on your accent.

Be prepared to learn sounds by feeling them, rather than listening to them.

Learning a dialect takes practice – lots of practice!

Use your script to learn the dialect – from the beginning of your text to the end...

Work with your dialect in day-to-day situations. (Your grocery store or coffee shop comes to mind.)

Learning to speak in an accent clearly is not easy.

I cannot guarantee how fast you will progress. That is up to you!

Your Investment

Often learning a dialect takes more time than you expect.

The initial coaching session time frame is two hours.

Each class is private, completely 1:1, so you get total individual attention.

For an initial two-hour session, your investment is $125.00

Each session after that will be scheduled for an hour.

For every hour after that, it is $75.00, with payment divided into 1/2 hour segments.

This investment is to be paid via PayPal, half before and half after the session.

If we are working together for the run of the production, the financial arrangement will be worked out for the production.

My Commitment to You

I have been teaching and coaching dialects using this method for over 40 years.

I can assist you in learning to feel the sounds in your chosen accent.

I will adjust our work, finding the most useful ways to help you specifically.

I will support you through the frustrations that happen when you feel sounds instead of just listening to them.

I can present you new skills using your dialect sounds and your character’s language to create a richer performance.

If all this sounds like I am tough, that’s because I am.

You can learn to feel the sounds you need to know to do a specific accent well,

but you need to be prepared to work hard because to do an accent fluently ain’t easy!

You will have my support as you learn to feel the accent sounds you need;

you will have my care as you go through the frustration of the process of marking your entire script!

You will have my listening ear as you marry your accent and your character.

You will have my enthusiasm brimming all over the place as you portray your character in accent in performance!

I will enjoy watching you work me out of a job!

Adjust Your Accent! Keep Your Culture! Own your Future!

Cell: 443-745-1345

Email: talkingwelltoday@gmail.com